Florida Spring and Sink Location Map: By Jhwum Ki-ak

[laurent6120]

Interesting work, by Jhwum Ki-ak

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...0.kxHzQyQHnpLQ

[bamafan]

That is a pretty handy website.

[ARY]

Good compilation. Although I have mixed feelings about initiatives similar to Karst Information Portal. Caves with easy access can become a sacrifice to freedom and get vandalized.

[bamafan]

Good compilation. Although I have mixed feelings about initiatives similar to Karst Information Portal. Caves with easy access can become a sacrifice to freedom and get vandalized.

This is a very interesting debate. I have heard people say that maps shouldn't be published of the lesser known systems because it will cause people to go there and damage the cave. The same has been said about lists like these. From my experience the majority of people are to lazy or won't invest the time and money into going and finding these off the beaten path caves. I have slowly been working my way through the springs listed on the above site as well as other sites such as the USGS Spring Bulletin and the spring listings on the respective Florida water management district websites. I can tell you that most of these do not have any cave. I would bet that probably less than 10% have any accessible cave. I personally don't have a problem with the spring listings and think that if more people would get out and spend the time to find some of these places they might actually stay involved in this activity longer. I personally get bored diving the same caves over and over again. I think that this forum and the different agencies should be behind more people becomming involved or staying involved in this activity. I am sure people come and go for different reasons but I think one of the main reasons people quit cave diving is that they get bored. The ones I see sticking with it have seemed to branch out into other aspects of cave diving such as photography or exploring and surveying.

Not everyone can invest the money and time to do the kind of exploration that the Wkpp and KUR guys are doing but there are plenty of river caves where you can go and lay line on backgas alone. No scooter or trimix needed. Some of my most memorable dives have been little dives where I went to one of these springs and after cleaning out a bunch of leaves and sticks I was able to squeeze in and lay a little line. I also believe that the more people who get out and visit the springs the more likely we are to have people interested in protecting them. I think that listings like this create interest in some people and they will go out and investigate the springs and realize what is actually out there and that all the springs need protecting not just the ones in a park.

I have seen the damage done in caves and some of it seems really senseless. I have also caused some inadvertent damage and felt badly. In fact I was talking to a buddy about this the other day. To think that caves aren't going to get damaged to some degree is delusional. The argument then becomes do we quit diving or what. I have thought about the damage done especially when truly diving sidemount. I have personally looked at a beautiful pristine passage and then the very next dive you go in there it looks like a garden tiller has been through there because I was plowing through the silt to get through it. So I guess my question is where do we stop? I surely don't have the answer but I think that the more people who are interested in cave diving or the springs in general the better off we will be in keeping them protected.

[Walter Pickel]

It appears as this is a mashup of various Florida government sources (yes there are tons out there -- http://dep.state.fl.us/springs/repor...aster_list.pdf and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...bulletin66.htm are a few).

I would welcome you check out - www.caveatlas.com

[tjbald11]

I never really thought about the possibility that there were springs offshore. I'm not from florida, so I apologize if its common knowledge that there are offshore springs...it makes sense scientifically, but I guess it never crossed my mind. I knew there were siphons/small "springs" because places like hudson grotto are effected by the tidal shift/ there is a halocline. Has anyone found an offshore spring in the florida area that is large enough to penetrate?

[patpicos]

/like bamafan post.

[bamafan]

I never really thought about the possibility that there were springs offshore. I'm not from florida, so I apologize if its common knowledge that there are offshore springs...it makes sense scientifically, but I guess it never crossed my mind. I knew there were siphons/small "springs" because places like hudson grotto are effected by the tidal shift/ there is a halocline. Has anyone found an offshore spring in the florida area that is large enough to penetrate?

Yes there are several. This is an oldy but goody.

https://youtu.be/U65tlr9Y6tw

https://youtu.be/kdckXiM192E

[Kelly Jessop]

This is a very interesting debate. I have heard people say that maps shouldn't be published of the lesser known systems because it will cause people to go there and damage the cave.

Dry caving world leans toward not publishing these things,but regardless, the information is still there. What lists like this lack is what is on private property, and intruding is not only unwelcome,but can/could be met with law enforcement. Prudent to always let the curious seekers know that yes there is a spring there,but don't trespass.

[tjbald11]

Yes there are several. This is an oldy but goody.

https://youtu.be/U65tlr9Y6tw

https://youtu.be/kdckXiM192E

wow thanks for the video links...I would love to see some people revisit that cave and get footage with the new video/ light technology out there. It's always cool to get a glimpse into the lesser known caves around Florida.